"I was always a clown. In the eighth grade I won a city speech contest by doing an Eddie Murphy routine. I'm no good at public speaking, but if I can assume a role and speak as that person, then I'm fine. When I had to give a book report, I always did it in character"

In this quote, Jason Wiles assesses his experience as an entertainer and how presuming a character assists him conquer his fear of public speaking. He shares that even in his more youthful years, he was drawn to comedy and won a city speech contest by impersonating Eddie Murphy. Regardless of not being confident in his public speaking abilities, he discovered that taking on a role and speaking as that character permitted him to feel comfortable and excel in his presentations. This method even reached his book reports, where he would present as a character rather than himself. Wiles' quote highlights the power of acting and how it can help individuals overcome their insecurities and worries.